One last Nguyen at Washington-Grizzly Stadium

As the 2016 Griz Football fall camp neared its conclusion and the Montana coaching staff was settling in on a depth chart, running backs coach Justin Green paused when thinking about how to answer a question regarding one of his group's standouts, John Nguyen.

"He's a guy who's worked for everything that he's got, not coming here on full scholarship and now being on full scholarship. We've tried to replace him every year and he's done nothing but prove us wrong and start, and earn himself scholarship money," said Green.

Nguyen arrived in Montana in 2012 as a true freshman coming off of a stellar prep career at powerhouse Bellevue high school in Washington, where he rushed for 1,287 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior.

But he really arrived in Missoula much earlier than that. Before he ever set foot on the turf at Washington-Grizzly Stadium as a player, Nguyen was in the stands, cheering on his older brother Peter Nguyen.

Peter Nguyen still ranks No. 7 on Montana's all-time career rushers list, tallying 1,985 yards from 2009-12, a mark John will surpass if he rushes for just 470 more yards this season.

Now, after eight years of a Nguyen wearing maroon and silver, it's John's turn to leave his legacy as a Grizzly, and keep proving everybody wrong.

"Watching him (Peter) do what he could do on this field, I knew I could. It's all about heart and about work ethic. Sometimes It's not about the size, it's about how you perform and what you do," said John.

Since coming to the team as a non-scholarship athlete, John has become an indispensable part of the Grizzly offense, playing in nearly every game since 2013, and winning the starting spot in 2015, where he did enough to earn an All-Big Sky honorable mention.

He's rushed for over 1,500 yards since becoming a Grizzly and is UM's leading returning rusher from last season where he ran for 855 yards. A solid effort for a running back in a passing offense.

Now, as his career winds down, he'll have that chance to leave a legacy, win a conference championship, and add another Nguyen to the record books as well.

See the rest of John Nguyen's senior profile by clicking on the photo above.

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